Of all the stumbling blocks between the FPö and ÖVP, the Rocket Defense Initiative “Sky Shield” should be the smallest. Because it is much less than the two parties in the dispute. To the background:
1.) What the armed forces demand: Before the Ukraine war, the Austrian armed forces were created a series of up to 50 km of the idea was created before the Ukraine war, because the airspace of Austria is notoriously subdefinied. MRAD is called this class on rockets, which stands for air defense for average distance, ie medium -distance flight defense. Placed in Vienna, she would put a protective shield over the capital that extends to the south to Wiener Neustadt.
2.) What is on the market: Various manufacturers worldwide produce these MRAD systems. The British also sell one, the Germans, the Norwegians. “Sky Shield” is just a shopping and training cooperation between 22 countries that are together on the Deutsche Have set the system and want to buy it. It is called IRIS-T, comes from the manufacturer Diehl in überlingen and is also the favorite of the federal army, if only because of the good contacts with the German Bundeswehr.
Explanation and advertising video of the federal army on “Sky Shield”
3.) How we buy it: But that does not mean that it must inevitably be Iris-T. If Austria buys another MRAD system, such as that of the British, it would not be with “Sky Shield” but would still have a rocket defense. If Austria would easily buy Iris-T directly from the manufacturer Diehl outside “Sky Shield”, it would not be the alliance, but would have a rocket defense. “Sky Shield” is not the defense weapon or a radar system, but only a purchase method – without which it is possible. You can also buy a normal car in different ways.
4.) What this means in domestic policy: Herbert Kickl could therefore be released from the “Sky Shield” store partnership and then build the Rocket Protection screen without international partners (most of which are at NATO). Kickl could announce, as promised to have come from “Sky Shield”, and the Republic would still have the air defense she was looking for.
The only downside: the purchase as a loner on the market would become considerably more expensive, the training is probably too. Experts expect extra costs of around 100 million euros, which would cause this coalitarian small war for taxpayers. A bitter aftertaste, because the end result would be the same as with “Sky Shield” without the “Sky Shield” shopping partner.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
